FG Inaugurates National Laureate Committee, Unveils ₦365 Million Annual Research Prize

FG Inaugurates National Laureate Committee, Unveils ₦365 Million Annual Research Prize The Federal Government has inaugurated the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Committee as part of efforts to reposition scholarship, innovation and research as key drivers of Nigeria’s national development. The inauguration, held in Abuja, also marked the unveiling of the National Laureate Programme, a new initiative that will reward outstanding undergraduate, master’s and doctoral research with an annual prize pool of about ₦365 million. The programme is designed to promote academic excellence, encourage innovation and stimulate research that addresses the country’s socio-economic challenges. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at placing academic excellence and research commercialisation at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda. according to the minister, the programme seeks to transform the country’s reward system by giving scholarly achievements the same national recognition accorded to excellence in other sectors, while inspiring students, researchers and innovators to develop solutions capable of driving economic growth and national competitiveness. Alausa directed the newly inaugurated committee to develop transparent eligibility criteria, engage tertiary institutions across the country and ensure the successful organisation of the maiden National Laureate Awards, scheduled for November 2026. Under the initiative, outstanding undergraduate research projects will attract prizes of ₦5 million, while winners in the master’s and doctoral categories will receive ₦10 million and ₦20 million respectively, alongside national recognition for their contributions to research and innovation.The committee is chaired by Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sambo, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. Other members include representatives of the National Universities Commission NUC, Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund, National Board for Technical Education NBTE, National Commission for Colleges of Education NCCE, the Nigerian Academy of Letters and leading academics drawn from universities across the country. Education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as one of the Federal Government’s most ambitious efforts to elevate scholarship, innovation and research to national priorities. They expressed optimism that the programme would encourage healthy competition among students and institutions while promoting research capable of addressing critical national challenges. The National Laureate Programme forms part of the Federal Government’s broader education reform agenda aimed at strengthening research capacity, fostering innovation and improving the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.